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Tulare County Animal Services Offering 500 Free Microchips to County Residents

Microchipping animals provides a greater ability to reunite pets with owners and decrease the number of animals coming into shelters. Tulare County recently revised its Animal Ordinances effective as of June 1, 2019. These revised ordinances approved by the Board of Supervisors require all dogs in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County to be implanted with a microchip and the information provided to Tulare County Animal Services.

To help county residents comply with this new requirement, Tulare County Animal Services will be giving away 500 free microchips to Tulare County residents during the month of June. Microchip vouchers can be obtained on our website and will be available until they run out; a counter will indicate how many microchips are left. There is no per person limit, but they are reserved for owned dogs.  A photo ID is necessary to verify residency when bringing dogs to the shelter for microchipping. Dogs must be able to be handled, so no aggressive dogs will be eligible.

A microchip is one of the best ways to protect your dog or cat if it gets lost. This tiny chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted under the skin at the shoulder blades; it cannot be lost, worn out, or removed. If your pet ever gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or a veterinary clinic, the animal will be scanned to see if he or she is microchipped. If so, the identification number appears, and the pet’s owner can be found, because the number is linked to their information in a database.

Spay/Neuter Assistance for Owned Pets in Tulare County

Tulare County Animal Services has received a $28,687 grant from PetSmart Charities®, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, to help fuel its spay and neuter efforts in Tulare County. With the help of the grant, Tulare County Animal Services is offering spay and neuter assistance for owned pets in Tulare County.

Click here to download the Press Release

Click here to download the fillable spay/neuter request form

Completed forms can be emailed to tcanimalservices@tularehhsa.org, faxed to (559) 713-3716, dropped off at our shelter, or mailed to Tulare County Animal Services, 14131 Avenue 256, Visalia, CA  93292.

Changes to Tulare County Animal Ordinances

Tulare County Animal Services strives to improve the safety and quality of life for the animals and residents of Tulare County. Therefore, to clarify and enhance the ordinances, revisions were approved by the Board of Supervisors at its April 30 meeting. Community members in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County are affected by the changes.

“This has been a three-year process in collaboration with the Animal Services Advisory Committee and the Ordinance and Standards Review Ad Hoc Committee, with review of industry best practices and extensive research and review from the County Counsel's office, culminating in meetings with community stakeholders and the public,” says Animal Services Division Director Patrick Hamblin. “Changes to the ordinances continue to bring Tulare County Animal Services in line with other forward-thinking counties and the state of California."

The Animal Services Advisory Committee has been integral to the proposed changes. Public meetings held last fall and public comment through our website resulted in additional revisions to the ordinances.

Key changes include:

• Addition of commercial kennel and rescue organization minimum standards
• Expands definitions with a change to define adult dogs as being nine (9) months or older
• Requires all dogs to be implanted with a microchip and the information provided to Animal Services, to have a greater ability to reunite pets with owners and decrease impounded animals
• All dogs to be spayed or neutered by six (6) months of age
  • Exceptions include police dogs, licensed unaltered dogs, dogs to whom this would be detrimental (with written veterinarian allowance), and those whose owners apply for an unaltered license
• Implementing a maximum number of dogs for kennel permit holders
• Limiting the number of breeder permits issued to commercial breeders and kennel operations
  • Individuals would have an allowance of one permit per household
• To promote responsible pet ownership through the kennel and breeder process, a violations process has been proposed for kennel operators and for individuals without a kennel permit
• Live animals may not be sold, bartered, gifted, or transferred at swap meets within county jurisdictions

The ordinance revisions expand definitions to create clarity, acknowledge the county’s pet overpopulation issue, and maintain the commitment to the mission, vision, and values for both the Animal Care and Adoptions facility operations and the Animal Control function.

Feature Story

Emergency Preparedness For Your Pets  

Emergencies come in many forms: fires, earthquakes, floods, and more. In the event of a disaster, would you know what to do to protect your pet? The best thing you can do is be prepared.

Pet Preparedness for Emergencies
Have a current list of your pets and/or animals at all times. You may obtain a rescue alert sticker (available at your local pet supply store or through the ASPCA) that lists the number and species of animals residing in your home or on your property. If you evacuate with your animals during an emergency, and time allows, write “Evacuated” across the alert sticker and place in your front window or on your door. 

Make sure your pets are microchipped and have proper identification. This is the single most important step you can take to ensure that you and your companion animals will be reunited if you are separated. Don’t forget to include alternate contacts with the microchip registration, such as your cell phone number and phone numbers for an out-of-area relative so that you can still be contacted in the case of an evacuation.

Your pet’s basic disaster kit should include:

• Food and water for at least five days for each pet, plus bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food. A gallon of water on hand to use if your pet has been exposed to chemicals or flood waters and needs to be rinsed.
• Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also a good idea.
• Cat litter box, litter, litter scoop, and garbage bags to collect all your pets' waste.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can't escape. Make sure that your cat or dog is wearing a collar and identification that is up to date and visible at all times. Carriers should be large enough to allow your pet to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. (Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours at a time.) Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets—who may also need blankets or towels for bedding and warmth, as well as special items, depending on their species.
• Current photos of you with your pets and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated—and to prove that they are yours once you're reunited.
• Written information about your pets' feeding schedules, medical conditions, and behavior issues, along with the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

Here is more information on how to make a pet first-aid kit. 

Guidelines for Animal Owners During a Natural Disaster

The best way to ensure the safety of your pets is to EVACUATE THEM at the same time you evacuate. It is simply too dangerous to leave companion animals unattended during natural disasters.

Horse and Large Animal Preparedness for Emergencies:

• Make sure your horse is identifiable with a bracelet and/or microchip in the event your horse runs off or becomes separated during a disaster, increasing your odds of being reunited. An ID bracelet can be purchased online or you can make your own with your contact information and place the bracelet around the horse’s back hoof. A microchip can be scanned to easily locate you through a database.
• Plan for an evacuation. Train your horse to load into a trailer.
• Have a surplus of both feed and water available.
• Keep a leather halter near the corral that’s easy for emergency responders to find in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself; nylon halters can cause serious burns.
• Never turn your horse or livestock loose during a wildfire, as they could be dangerous to you, emergency personnel, or other evacuees. If you have to evacuate without your animals, keep them in a safe, fenced paddock until the threat passes or emergency help arrives.

Large Animal Evacuation

In the event evacuations are ordered during an emergency, Tulare County Animal Services will work in partnership with the Tulare County Emergency Operations Center, and evacuation sites for equines and other large animals will be established. Various locations may be used, depending on the location of the emergency and the area to be evacuated. Information will be made available on locations and points of contact via news outlets, social media, and press releases. You may also call Tulare County Animal Services at (559) 636-4050.

More information on disaster preparedness

Here are some printable flyers to help you be prepared:

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